The month of October is dedicated to raising awareness of dyslexia, the most commonly reported learning disability. People with dyslexia typically have difficulty with reading and can also face challenges in other language skills like writing, spelling, and pronouncing words. Research suggests that dyslexia is linked to certain genes that affect how the brain processes reading and language - meaning it’s hereditary.

“It affects more people than you’d probably realize, and it’s not cut and dry; every student responds differently to it,” said Nicole Walling, one of 16 dyslexia specialists in Sherman ISD. “It’s more of a spectrum; some students have more difficulties with things than others might.”

Sherman ISD currently serves 708 students districtwide with direct dyslexia instruction or dyslexia accommodations. 

“Dyslexia specialists deliver multi-sensory, cumulative, and explicit dyslexia instruction to build word reading and decoding skills, fluency and comprehension as well as spelling and handwriting,” said Kerry Bedgood, Sherman ISD coordinator of 504, dyslexia and interventions.

The district has several programs that are used for dyslexia instruction, depending on the individual needs of the student in both English and Spanish. Once direct instruction is complete, accommodations are continued based on student preference or need.

“Accommodations are very important. With such a small group, I get to know these students on a more personal level, which helps me to identify strengths and weaknesses,” Walling said. “I can then share that information with the students’ other teachers so they can apply that knowledge to general education classes.”

In July 2023, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 3928, which changed standard protocol dyslexia instruction to specially designed instruction. This means that all direct dyslexia instruction will fall under Special Education services by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Students who have completed their direct dyslexia instruction may be dismissed from Special Education and have their accommodation plans through Section 504. Read House Bill 3928 here. Read a bill overview from TEA here.

Cody Luelf is a 9th grader at Sherman High School. He moved to Sherman ISD this year because his previous school didn’t offer dyslexia services.

“It helps me to pronounce and read words that I couldn’t before,” Luelf said. “I’m definitely more confident.”

By taking a learning style inventory at the start of the year, Walling better understands which learning methods and accommodations work best for different students.

“I like to take time to assess any higher-intensity words they might come across in their general education subject-specific classes to help them better understand them with techniques we use in class,” Wallings said.

In class, she uses different kinesthetic exercises and hands-on activities to help her students remember the words they are studying.

“Working with the marker boards to annotate words and identify blends,” Luelf said. “That’s probably my favorite activity.”

On Tuesday, guest speaker Eric McGehearty visited Sherman ISD to share his strategies and insights on how parents can help their children with dyslexia. McGehearty is the founder of StandUpLD non-profit, a support network for parents and educators seeking resources to support and inspire children with learning differences, and CEO of Globe Runner, a prominent digital marketing agency in Dallas.

McGehearty spoke on neurodiversity, the power of thinking differently, as well as gifts and strengths that are common in dyslexics. He shared stories from his own experiences as a dyslexic and the strategies he used to succeed in school and his career. McGehearty also talked about the assistive technologies that he uses daily to thrive in a reading-centric world.

“Understanding the best ways to teach and uplift our dyslexic students is so crucial to their success,” Walling said. “All we want is for them to build that confidence in themselves."